Baron Geisler admits bringing ‘hash brownies’ to ‘Tabing Ilog’ set

(from left to right) John Lloyd Cruz, Baron Geisler, Paolo Contis, Patrick Garcia, Kaye Abad, Jodi Sta. Maria, Desiree del Valle, and Paula Peralejo | Image: YouTube/iWantTFC

Baron Geisler admitted he used to bring hash brownies, or brownies laced with an addictive substance, to the set of the popular youth-oriented TV drama series “Tabing Ilog” to share with his co-stars and crew members while filming

Sitting down with Jiro Manio at Marites University to talk about their open struggles with addiction, Geisler recalled his earlier years as an actor when he made “brownies” to share, but stressing that everyone knew there were “drugs” on them.

“Tabing Ilog, di ba? Akala mo malilinis kami, ‘di ba? Hindi nila alam, may mga sungay na nagti-trip kami. Ito ang nakakatawa, kasi parang legal na ako sa bahay. Wala na silang magawa. So gumagawa ako ng brownies, hash brownies. Ibibigay ko sa lahat ng mga cameraman pero alam na nila,” he revealed. 

While he did not name names, the “Dollhouse” actor also recalled a moment when the crew members “got high” because of his hash brownies.

“Hinahanap nila every Wednesday ‘yung brownies ni Baron kasi ang lakas tapos suwabe. This time, ginawa kong extra strong. So, yung mga nagta-traffic ng tricycle dahil nag-shoot kami sa bahay, nakatulog. Tamang-tama sila. Pero kami, naka-brownies din kami habang umaarte. Tinginan na lang kami. Ang saya lang mag-trip nung times na ‘yon,” the actor narrated. 

Hash brownies, which make use of parts or derivatives of the cannabis plant, such as marijuana, are considered addictive, and possession of which are prohibited by law.

Geisler also shared that he was only 12 years old when he first took drugs, adding there had been too much substance in him since then. 

“Twelve years [old] nang unang humithit ng hardcore drugs. Kasi ‘yung rason ko noon, gusto kong tumanda agad. Sumama sa barkada ng kuya ko gumimik at mambabae. Noon, every Saturday lang o kapag may okasyon, hanggang sa, ayun na, hinahanap-hanap na ng sistema ko. Hindi na ako nagbabayad ng runner. Ako na yung nagiging runner. Walang araw na hindi ako lasing o naka marijuana,” the actor detailed. 

INQUIRER.net tried to reach the ABS-CBN management, which produced “Tabing Ilog” from the late ’90s to early 2000s. The show also starred John Lloyd Cruz, Paolo Contis, Patrick Garcia, Kaye Abad, Jodi Sta. Maria, Desiree del Valle, and Paula Peralejo.

The interview was discussing how Geisler and Manio, himself a reformed former drug dependent, had become hooked to the ills of addiction and how they overcame it.